Um, so this is Chapter 4. Apparently there have been over 140 hits on this story, so this is AWESOME! As I'm writing this I have absolutely NO idea where this chapter is headed. I'm going to pray to the god of writing and creativity that it turns out OK. Then again, the rest of the chapters started this way, and they seem to have turned out fine. I realize that this note really didn't make much sense, but I'm tired, so you'll just have to ignore it. Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter, and now on with the story!

"Wake up." There were hands shaking me awake. "WAKE UP!"

"No. Go away, Ellie." I grumbled back before burying my face under a pillow.

"My name is Effie, not Ellie, but its close, so thanks for trying." A perky voice replied. "Anyway, Mr. Applegate wanted me to wake you guys up. We have to watch the Reapings."

My sleep deprived brain caught only a few words. Ellie. Effie. Reapings. I bolted up, scaring Effie, who let out a piercing scream.

"Gee. You're going to give someone a heart attack!" Effie was standing now, her normally smiling face slack and pale. I had to admit it was pretty funny, and I was trying really hard not to laugh at her.

"I'm sorry Effie." I tried to stay serious, but it was impossible, and I burst out laughing. Effie looked so offended that it only made me laugh harder.

"It's not funny." She whispered under her breath. "You guys are impossible."

I laughed until my jaw was sore and my stomach was cramping. Haymitch was totally right. The humour from teasing other people was just too funny to pass up. It helped take my mind off of my predicament. On that serious note I rolled out of bed and opened the room's closet. I surveyed the clothes and grabbed a pair of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt. After I had dressed I threw my hair into a ponytail and headed into the T.V. room. The other tributes, along with Effie and our district's escort, Mr. Applegate, Effie had said, were already sat around the T.V. Helena and Effie were perched on a love seat, Mr. Applegate was in an armchair, the other guy was slouched on a chair, and Haymitch was sprawled out on the couch.

Mr. Applegate noticed me standing in the door and shot me a death glare. "Nice of you to finally join us Ms. Donner." His voice was dripping with sarcasm. I walked to the couch and looked down at Haymitch. He glared back at me. "Can you move your legs, please?"

He scoffed at me. "No way." I was shocked. What had happened to him? Last night he had been almost friendly, but now? Now he was just being downright cold.

Well, if he wanted it to be that way, then I would have to be just as indifferent. "Move them, or I'll sit on you, Abernathy."

He didn't look very happy, but he drew his legs back slightly, barely allowing me enough room to sit. I sat down and then stared at him. "Thanks so much." He smirked at me, but when the smirk disappeared off his face for a moment his eyes looked just a little softer, but as soon as I noticed it, it disappeared again.

Effie stood up and turned on the Reaping recaps. The newly elected President, President Snow, was making an opening speech from the Capitol. It was the exact same speech every year, so I tuned it out until Effie threw a pillow at me. "Pay attention, Maysilee." She hissed. They were starting to draw the career tributes. These were the people who were the greatest block that stopped me from living.

The names of the District 1 tributes were Glare and Glitter, who were twins, and Ruby and Sheen. District 2' tributes were named Sava, Fier, Cara, and Brett. Based on the looks of the District 4 tributes there wasn't anything to worry about. No one else really caught my eye until they called the District 11 tributes. One girl, Seraphine, and one guy, Birch, caught my eye. They looked like they were around 14 and 17 respectively, but they both looked sly and crafty. I would have to keep an eye on them when we reached the Capitol.

Effie turned the T.V. off after this. There was no need to watch what happened next. We all knew what would happen next.

********

After the reaping recap I sat on the couch for a while, flipping through the T.V. channels. There was nothing on except recaps and a Capitol news show that was making predictions, and since I was interested, I watched it for a while.

"And as for the winner, we have high hopes for Sava Thorn of District 1. Insiders tell us that in preliminary training Sava shows 'a lot of promise'"

"That's right, Melissa. This year, for the first time since the 10th Hunger Games, we also have sources telling us that District 12's Haymitch Abernathy is showing much promise to do well in the games. As for the other District 12 tributes, Helena Mitchell, Redmond Herring, and Maysilee Donner, along with District 11's Seraphine Redfern, we don't hold out much hope for these four tributes. Our official prediction is that most, if not all of these tributes WILL die in the so-called 'Cornucopia Bloodbath'."

I was shocked. They "don't hold out much hope" for me? On what grounds? They didn't have any proof. I picked up the remote and turned the T.V. off, still in shock. I needed to be alone. I headed to my room, where I knew I wouldn't be bothered. As I walked down the deserted hall one door swung open and something grabbed my arm, pulling me in.

I turned, and, not surprisingly, found myself face to face with Haymitch who was hiding in one of the closets along the hall. "What, no scream this time?" He smiled at me.

"No, actually I've kind of come to expect it." I replied sarcastically. "Do you honestly think you can stand there and smile at me after how you just treated me?"

"Yes, actually, I do."

"You jerk." I hit his arm. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm Haymitch Abernathy, District 12 tribute, and you're Maysilee Donner, District 12 tribute. That's why we can't be friends-"

"That's IT! I'm leaving." I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm and dragged me back.

"Let me finish."

I stopped and turned back towards him. "Fine. You have 60 seconds."

"That's why we can't be friends when we're around the other tributes. If we let everyone think we hate each other, then we might be able to use it to our advantage. As far as I could tell, making allies on this train hasn't occurred to Helena or Red. I know it sounds bad, but if we are friends then we will have an advantage going in that no one else, except the Careers, will have going in. We'll already have someone we can trust, and we can use this time to cement an alliance. I mean, in other years alliances of two have proved to be the most powerful."

I could see where he was coming from. "That is a fantastic plan. You are way too sly. Which is why I'm glad you're MY ally."

"And that, my friend, is why I don't let you make the plans." He reached out his hand and I took it. We shook on our new partnership, but for some reason neither of us wanted to be the first to let go.

He smiled at me and, returning the smile I let go of his hand. As I was about to turn to leave the train suddenly swerved and I was thrown against Haymitch. He caught me, and held on to me as the train continued to swerve along the tracks. The train steadied, but we stayed like we were until a loud voice blasted over the speaker system. We jumped apart as we heard the announcement. "So sorry about that. We are just travelling along a rather unstable section of track, and this might happen a few more times before we arrive in the Capitol tomorrow."

The announcement ended, and I could tell even in the dim light of the closet that I was bright red. "Um, Haymitch... I have to... you know... go. There's something I... need to... do. Yeah! So, bye!" Before he could reply I bolted out of the closet, once again startling Effie, who screamed in terror. This time I didn't even stop to apologize. I kept running until I was in my room. I slammed the door and locked it, then sank to the floor with a small smile on my face. And I found that, for the first time since my name had been drawn in the reaping, the Hunger Games was the furthest thing from my mind.

********

So, another day, another chapter! This chapter was mostly filler to further develop the relationship and alliance between Maysilee and Haymitch, and to develop the other tributes. In case you didn't notice, I was feeling especially uncreative today, and therefore named the 4th District 12 tribute Red Herring. He will in no way, shape or form actually be a red herring (as of right now anyway). I was on the fence for a while about whether to give a name to the District Escort, mostly because I wasn't sure if he had a name in the book, but I finally got to a point in the story where I couldn't keep calling him "that guy" or "him", so I named him Mr. Applegate after the devil in Damn Yankees (fitting isn't it). So, I hope this chapter didn't bore you too much, and hopefully next chapter we will get to something more interesting! As always, please review. I only got 1 review for the last chapter, so I am hoping to get at least 3 this time! The next update... I have 2 big assignments due on Monday, so it depends on how much of them I get done tomorrow. So, see you then!